Job 22
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
2 Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?
“Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
4 Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?
“Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
5 Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?
Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
6 For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
8 And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,
ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,
Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
12 Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!
“Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
13 And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'
Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
15 Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
16 Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;
Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
17 Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?
Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
18 Yet He filled their houses with good things — but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
19 The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
“Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
20 'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
21 Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.
“Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
22 Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.
Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,
Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
24 And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
25 And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;
ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
26 Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;
Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
29 When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.
Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
30 He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
